Product Description

The soldier’s saviour, the standard-bearer of modern nursing, a pioneering social reformer – and much else besides – Florence Nightingale belongs to that select band of historical characters who are instantly recognisable. As the Lady with the Lamp, ministering to the wounded and dying of the Crimean War, she offers an enduring image of sentimental appeal, and one that is permanently lodged in the national consciousness. She has been honoured and admired, criticised and ridiculed. More often than not, she has been misrepresented and misunderstood. In this remarkable book, the first major biography of Florence Nightingale in over fifty years, Mark Bostridge draws on a wealth of unpublished material, including previously unseen family papers, to throw significant new light on this extraordinary woman’s life and character. By disentangling elements of myth from the reality, Bostridge has written a vivid and immensely readable account of one of the most iconic figures in modern British history.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #252468 in Books
• Published on: 2008-09-25
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 672 pages

Review
'Brilliantly evoked ... It is hard to imagine how one might improve upon Bostridge's masterly understanding'
--Sunday Times

Review
'Brilliantly evoked ... Bostridge paints a moving picture ... It is hard to imagine how one might improve on Bostridge's masterly understanding'

Review
Highly persuasive, fascinating, absorbing ... A masterly work, sympathetic but even-handed, and enormously enjoyable to read

Customer Reviews

Detailed Account of her Life
A few months ago, I was sent a proof copy of this book, which came in at just under 550 words. The published hardback version also includes illustrations, and is a massive 672 pages!

In his introduction, Mark Bostridge explains how he has been aided by the gradual appearance of many of Florence Nightingale's selected writings, as well as his research in the unpublished archive of Nightingale family papers. It's obvious just how much work has gone into his book, and it is both detailed and informative.

It is a long, detailed book, and yet it is incredibly readable. It covers everything you can imagine, from Florence Nightingale's family, her time in the Crimean War, her reforms to nursing, and finishes by exploring her role as an icon.

Although this is such a big book, it has been divided into sections, and it is possible to read them separately. Although reading about her family background, and her life growing up will give you that wider understanding of her character as a whole, the sections based around the Crimean War, and those about her health reforms could be read independently.

Being a nurse myself, and having worked at St Thomas's, the nursing section was the most interesting to me. Florence was never interested in nurses carrying out any medical duties, but her passion was on cleanliness - oh how things have changed! It's also interesting to see how early a paid register was in place for nurses.

This is a detailed work, which is highly readable, and offers content suitable for many people - it would be a great buy for anyone with an interest in any aspect of Florence Nightingale's life, and for nurses today, who wish to learn a little more about the background of their profession.